New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has landed in Moscow on Tuesday for a three-day visit that New Delhi hopes will reaffirm its special relationship with Russia. The timing is notable: ties with Washington have been frayed after US President Donald Trump slapped a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing the country’s continued purchases of Russian crude.
Officials in Delhi have pushed back, saying India’s energy choices are guided by national interest and the realities of global markets. “We cannot afford to compromise energy security,” one senior diplomat remarked before the visit.
New Delhi–Moscow ties under spotlight
EAM Jaishankar will co-chair the 26th session of the India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission in Moscow. The commission reviews cooperation in trade, science, technology, defence and culture, and the session is vital in strengthening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. EAM Jaishankar will also address the India–Russia Business Forum, a meeting where both sides usually push for fresh investment and greater market access.
EAM’s is scheduled to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A meeting with President Vladimir Putin is also likely, although it has not been officially confirmed yet. Energy supplies, defence projects and the wider economic agenda are expected to dominate.
US tariffs and the Ukraine conflict cast shadow over talks
The shadow over these talks is the Ukraine conflict, now into its fourth year. India has held to its line that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only way forward. PM Modi reiterated that stance last week during a phone call with Putin that were held soon after the Russian leader’s meeting with Trump in Alaska. Both sides exchanged views on possible ways to reduce tensions, according to official communication.
The visit underscores the balancing act India faces. Besides striking a fine balance between keeping an old friendship with Moscow steady, New Delhi also has to try to contain the turbulence with Washington DC. Jaishankar’s challenge will be to signal continuity in Russia ties without further fuelling the perception in the US that India is strongly drifting eastward.